Anthem
It
is
a
sin
to
write
this
.
It
is
a
sin
to
think
words
no
others
think
and
to
put
them
down
upon
a
paper
no
others
are
to
see
.
It
is
base
and
evil
.
It
is
as
if
we
were
speaking
alone
to
no
ears
but
our
own
.
And
we
know
well
that
there
is
no
transgression
blacker
than
to
do
or
think
alone
.
We
have
broken
the
laws
.
The
laws
say
that
men
may
not
write
unless
the
Council
of
Vocations
bid
them
so
.
May
we
be
forgiven
!
But
this
is
not
the
only
sin
upon
us
.
We
have
committed
a
greater
crime
,
and
for
this
crime
there
is
no
name
.
What
punishment
awaits
us
if
it
be
discovered
we
know
not
,
for
no
such
crime
has
come
in
the
memory
of
men
and
there
are
no
laws
to
provide
for
it
.
It
is
dark
here
.
The
flame
of
the
candle
stands
still
in
the
air
.
Nothing
moves
in
this
tunnel
save
our
hand
on
the
paper
.
We
are
alone
here
under
the
earth
.
It
is
a
fearful
word
,
alone
.
The
laws
say
that
none
among
men
may
be
alone
,
ever
and
at
any
time
,
for
this
is
the
great
transgression
and
the
root
of
all
evil
.
But
we
have
broken
many
laws
.
And
now
there
is
nothing
here
save
our
one
body
,
and
it
is
strange
to
see
only
two
legs
stretched
on
the
ground
,
and
on
the
wall
before
us
the
shadow
of
our
one
head
.
The
walls
are
cracked
and
water
runs
upon
them
in
thin
threads
without
sound
,
black
and
glistening
as
blood
.
We
stole
the
candle
from
the
larder
of
the
Home
of
the
Street
Sweepers
.
We
shall
be
sentenced
to
ten
years
in
the
Palace
of
Corrective
Detention
if
it
be
discovered
.
But
this
matters
not
.
It
matters
only
that
the
light
is
precious
and
we
should
not
waste
it
to
write
when
we
need
it
for
that
work
which
is
our
crime
.
Nothing
matters
save
the
work
,
our
secret
,
our
evil
,
our
precious
work
.
Still
,
we
must
also
write
,
for
—
may
the
Council
have
mercy
upon
us
!
—
we
wish
to
speak
for
once
to
no
ears
but
our
own
.
Our
name
is
Equality
7
-
2521
,
as
it
is
written
on
the
iron
bracelet
which
all
men
wear
on
their
left
wrists
with
their
names
upon
it
.
We
are
twenty
-
one
years
old
.
We
are
six
feet
tall
,
and
this
is
a
burden
,
for
there
are
not
many
men
who
are
six
feet
tall
.
Ever
have
the
Teachers
and
the
Leaders
pointed
to
us
and
frowned
and
said
:
“
There
is
evil
in
your
bones
,
Equality
7
-
2521
,
for
your
body
has
grown
beyond
the
bodies
of
your
brothers
.
”
But
we
cannot
change
our
bones
nor
our
body
.
We
were
born
with
a
curse
.
It
has
always
driven
us
to
thoughts
which
are
forbidden
.
It
has
always
given
us
wishes
which
men
may
not
wish
.
We
know
that
we
are
evil
,
but
there
is
no
will
in
us
and
no
power
to
resist
it
.
This
is
our
wonder
and
our
secret
fear
,
that
we
know
and
do
not
resist
.
We
strive
to
be
like
all
our
brother
men
,
for
all
men
must
be
alike
.
Over
the
portals
of
the
Palace
of
the
World
Council
,
there
are
words
cut
in
the
marble
,
which
we
repeat
to
ourselves
whenever
we
are
tempted
:
